High On the Mountain Top

The other day, my room mate and I decided we would go to the Temple. When we arrived on that particular Saturday, we were told that we would have to wait maybe two hours or an hour and a half. I was determined to stay, no matter the cost. I knew I was meant to go there and I would be blessed. Consequentially, I had trouble getting my load of homework handled, but it all turned out right. I knew the wait would be worth it but I had no idea the wait would be what I needed most. 

I sat in the temple quietly with much to ponder. I'm not certain what I was thinking about particularly, but my heart was at peace and I was feeling explicit joy. The kind of joy that you cannot feel without the spirit. I felt impressed to open to Alma 32 after thumbing through the pages for a while. This is a side note, but God has such infinite wisdom and timing! Lately I had been reading that very chapter for various reasons. Once because that was where I was reading the Book of Mormon in the first place, the next because the other night I was talking with a friend of mine about that particular passage and here (significantly) was the 3rd time. I was somewhat skimming and often lifted my head to contemplate. Once, when I looked down my eyes connected as if drawn by a magnet to verse 15. To me, in that moment the verse had a much deeper meaning than when I had read it the past two times! It hit me that maybe God had been trying to tell me that certain thing 2 times before then. Again, I began pondering and the next time my head fell down my eyes rested on the last verse. It connected so beautifully with verse 15! I am so thankful for my Father in Heaven's long suffering. He is merciful and tender. My heart overflows with gratitude. I am so glad I was determined to go to the temple that day.

Truly I am blest everyday. Like this morning.

Last night I was afraid that I would not be able to get everything done in time for classes today. I had been working on a Relief Society lesson for this Sunday, so a lot of my time had already been taken up. But then I remembered in a blessing, it had told me that the lessons I prepared would not interfere with my school work, and that I would get everything in on time. So, at that point I knew it would work out. It turned out I hadn't needed to worry so much. Anyway, this morning I was still having a rough time getting up, and I needed help. Somehow I got the strength I needed. I've been realizing with something as simple as that, I need to give credit where it is rightfully due more often. I am learning to thank my God for everything in my life. As my creator, it is the least I can do, and in doing it, I feel like I am on His team - pressing foreword with a love of God and of all men.

My lesson in Relief Society covers a lot of aspects, but one of them is having concern for the one. I have also been trying to implement this in my life. Each day I pray for charity. In the temple I felt like I should try hard to have a soft heart that can be imprinted on. A heart that can be touched and bear the marks of those around me, so they will stay with me for a long time. Eternity. I must never allow someone to be Alone. They too must be Never Alone. They must know that they have sisters who love and Cherish them. They must know they will be cared for. 

I love this gospel with all my heart. I am again feeling the spirit all around me all the time. I know God is with me, and though I am far from perfect I am striving for it with all my heart. I feel my desires are one with His, though I do not know the turns my life will take, or where He would have me trod. But I know that I am getting closer to him, and all I can do is my best.

College!

I absolutely love the college life! I was scared to go to college in the get go, but it seems I molded into the life of a college student. I have a beautiful kitchen and living room. The dorms are a little cramped, but nothing I can't handle. I was mostly originally concerned about my room mates. Like would I like them? Tolerate them? Or would they be the girl friends I had missed out on in High School? It turns out that it has been the latter. They have been my close friends from the moment we met! I absolutely love them! The first night we sat around and got to know each other. One of my room mates said it might take us a month to get used to each other because of some statistic, but time hasn't brought any change in our relationship. We are all strong daughters of God supporting each other. It is absolutely beautiful.

The funny thing is, in our apartment it is totally normal to sing around the house! Hallelujah! When I lived at home I got told all the time to keep my mouth shut, but I never did. Here it is totally normal and it is not uncommon to hear a harmonizing voice join in. We all have such a passion/love of music. It is uncanny how perfectly we fit. In fact, our idea of a good time was finding a gazebo with amazing acoustics and singing hymns and songs from musicals that we knew. It is such a random thing to do, but it has been absolutely amazing. And entertaining for that matter. Occasionally we will get some stares, but we just keep on singing.

Like last night we went out to what was supposed to be a ward activity thing, but turned out to be a couple of us playing mario cart,  anyway- we ended up going to the gazebo and singing hymns. Fun times.

Another random thing. This Sunday I was sitting in our kitchen looking out the window and got increasingly annoyed at the girls across the way. They had a bunch of boys over who were in T-shirts and jeans and the girls were in shorts, which is bad because we aren't even allowed to wear Capri's here. They weren't playing loud music like they usually did, so it wasn't that bad, but still I thought it was disruptive. Then walked by two boys in white shirts and ties. I tore out of my apartment and chased them down just to tell them thank you for wearing shirts and ties on Sunday. It was so random. When they turned around they were holding a plate of cupcakes, and I realized they may have just been home teaching. But I decided to tell them thanks anyway. Either way I gave them something to think about. I think I might have guilt tripped them while in the process of complimenting them, but maybe not. Maybe they now know that a girl can actually think more highly of them if they are in their Sunday best on the Sabbath day. 

But yeah, it's been great. Women's choir has been great. I had forgotten how to sing and how much I loved it. Yes, it is different from my high school experience. We move faster and move the music stylistically the same, but not in heart. I am still having a good time. Today we broke up in sectionals. I'm starting to get to know the girls in my section. I was afraid I wouldn't get to know them and just sing with them and be a stranger to them. But everything is fine. Even my classes. They all will be fine. All my fears have dissipated and I'm just going foreword with faith. I know who holds my future in His hands and I am Never Alone.